Automatic liquid vender



Aug. 8, 1939.

J. M. ALEXANDER 2,168,552

AUTOMATIC LIQUID VENDER Filed Dec. 27, 1957 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John M. Alexander GUM/MM Aug. 8, 1939. J. M. ALEXANDER AUTOMATIC LIQUID VENDER Filed Do.

27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwc vvio n John M. Alexander Gum/M11 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to liquid dispensers which are to be operated manually only after the insertion of a genuine coin of the proper denomination to deliver a predetermined quantity of the liquid either from the original container or from any other suitable container. In its most specific form and as described below, the dispenser is to be secured to the original drums of lubricating oil for retailing the bulk oil with a minimum of attention and expense.

An object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for the delivery of the liquid, the mechanism being incomplete and so designed that the linkage may be completed only by the insertion of a coin.

Another object of the invention is the. provision of a piston operated pump in which the piston is latched against all movement and arranged to be unlatched manually for the operation of the pump only after the insertion of the coin.

Another of my objects is the provision of a piston operated pump for the delivery of a predetermined quantity of liquid at one stroke of the piston, the stroke in one direction deter- 25 mining the quantity of liquid to be delivered after which the delivery of the liquid is made by the piston stroke in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is the provi- Sion of a piston operated pump having a measuring stroke and a delivery stroke, the mechanism being such that each stroke must be fully completed before the beginning of the reverse stroke.

Another object which I have in view is the provision of a pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with the pumping piston for controlling the direction of movement of the piston at all stages of the pumping operation.

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, I will now refer to the drawings, in which Figure l is an elevational view of my dispenser with parts broken away and other parts sectioned, the movable parts being shown in the initial positions with the parts latched against operation.

Figure 2 is a view in isometric projection of the operating parts of my dispenser, the parts being in the position during the discharge stroke of the piston.

. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the operating. shaft of the dispenser together with those parts immediately associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical cross section on thecenter line of thegear rack.

. Figure 5 is a view in isometric projection of the detent assembly showing the parts after the gear-rack has been unlatched.

, Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the cam and cam operated mechanism, the view showing the parts in their initial position.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the parts in their position at the end of the first quarter turn of the operating shaft.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism showing the relationship of the parts at the beginning of the upward stroke of the piston.

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 i cylinder ID, a piston II, an inlet valve I2, and a discharge valve I3. The valves are preferably in the form of ball valves. The piston rod I4 is in the form of a gear rack which is provided with a notch I5 for latching the rack in its lowermost position. It will be evident that upward movement of the rack I4 will draw the oil or other liquid through the valve I2 and into the cylinder II and that downward movement of the rack and piston will force the liquid out through the discharge valve I3.

In its lowermost or inoperative position, the rack I 4 is latched by the: seating of the end portion of a detent I6 inthe notch I5. The upward movement of the rack I4 must, therefore, be preceded by the unlatching of the detent I 6 from the notch I5. This is accomplished by means of a mechanism about to be described.

The crank handle I! is secured to a shaft I8 which terminates in a cam I9. The cam I9 bears against the horizontal arm of a bellcrank having its pivotal axis at 2|. The lower arm of thebell crank is bifurcated to straddle an arm of the lever 22 which has its pivotal connection with the base 23 at 24. The lever 22 is in turn pivotally connected at 25 with a slide 26, the slide 26 being bent to lie in two planes which are vertical to each other. A second slide 21 is pivotally secured at 28 to thebase 23. The ends of the slides 26 and 2I'are spaced apart and they will operate only by spanning the space between them as by means of a coin 29. As the result of the rotation of the shaft I8 by means of the crank handle I'I, the cam I9 will depress the horizontal arm of the bell lever 20 and this will actuate the lever 22 on its pivot 24. a thrust on the slide 26, the thrust being communicated through the coin 29'to the slide member 27 to urge movement of the slide about the pivot 28. Associated with the slide is a pin 30 which is seated in the detent I6. It will be apparent that the movement of the detent I6 will be toward latching or unlatching position. The detent terminates in the rod 3| which is surrounded by a coil spring 32 for normally urging the detent I6 into latching position in the notch This exerts I5. The movement of the slides about the pivot 28 will therefore cause the movement of the pin 39 and the latch I6 out from the notch I5. A second detent 33 seats against the shoulder of the detent I6 when the detent I6 is in its unlatched position and it holds the detent I6 in its unlatched position until the lower end of the detent 33 is unlatched from the detent I6. The rod 34 projects upwardly from the detent 33 and it is surrounded by a coil spring 35 which normally urges the detent 33 into its operative position against the detent I6.

The crank handle I1 and the shaft I8 are rigidly secured together. Loosely surrounding the shaft I8 is a sleeve 36 which terminates at the handle end in a clutch member 31. A similar clutch member 38 is secured to rotate with the shaft I8. The clutch member 38 has one or more cutaway portions in sector form, as best shown in Figures 6 and 7. The clutch member 31 is provided with a corresponding number of pins 39 which project into the cutaway portions of the clutch member 38. The initial movement of the crank handle I1 will thus be communicated to the shaft I8 but not to the sleeve 36. When the parts are moved from the initial position in Figure '7 until the pin 39 engages the opposite wall of one of the cutaway portions, the sleeve 36 will be in engagement to be rotated by further movement of the crank handle I'I. Secured to the sleeve 36 is a pinion 40 which meshes with the rack of the gear rack I4. The device is operative in both directions, to either lower or raise the gear rack I4. The initial movement of the crank handle I'I after the insertion of the coin 29 merely unlatohes the various latches above described but continued movement is imparted to the gear neck I4.

While the gear rack I4 is designed to be moved either up or down by means of the pinion 49, provision must be made for insuring that the movement in either direction be completed before it is reversed. Secured to the sleeve 36 are two ratchets 4|, and 4,2, the two ratchets being opposed to each other. The ratchet 4| is designed to permit only the upward movement of the gear rack, while the ratchet 42 permits only the downward movement of the gear rack. A pawl 43 is pivotally secured at 43' and it has a spring connection 44 for holding the teeth in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 4|, as best shown in Figure 8. Pivotally secured to the ratchet 43 at 45 is a second pawl 46, which is offset so that the teeth are in engagement with the ratchet 42. The pawl 46 is normally urged into the engagement with the ratchet 42 by means of a spring 41, but the parts are so arranged that only one of the pawls at a time may be in engagement with its ratchet.

Rigidly secured to the pawl 43 is a member having a lower horizontal arm 48 and an upper horizontal arm 49 in a plate-like form, as best shown in Figure 2. The lower arm 48 is normally in alignment with the arm 50 projecting from the rod 34. Secured to the gear rack I4 is a stop member 5| which contacts with the arm 48at the end of the upward stroke of the gear rack. This forces the upward movement of the pawl 43 on its pivot, so that the pawls will both move from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 9., Continued upward movement of the gear rack isjthen impossible, and it is then possible only to reverse the direction of motion of the crank. handle I! to lower the gear rack. Since the upward stroke of the gear rack I4 determines the mount of liquid drawn into the cylinder, the position of the stop 5| determines the amount of liquid to be dispensed in one operation of the device. This amount may vary from time to time, depending on the cost of the liquid, and for this reason I make the stop 5| adjustable as shown in Figure 4. A bore in the gear rack I4 is designed for receiving a rod 52 having a knurled button at the upper extremity and having a screw thread in its lower portion. The screw thread passes through the stop 52 so that by turning the button the stop 5| may be raised or lowered relatively to the gear rack to thus determine the length of the upward stroke of the gear rack I4.

The lower end portion of the rod 52 is smooth and it has its bearing in the gear rack as shown in Figure 4. A similar bearing of the rod in the upper portion of the gear rack insures smooth rotation in a straight line when turning the button at the top of the rod 52. The stop 5| is movable up and down relatively to the gear rack for adjusting purposes but it moves up and down with the gear rack on the turning of the pinion 49. In order to prevent slippage from adjusted position of the stop 5|, I provide the portion of the rod 52 immediately below the button with a screw thread for the reception of a lock nut.

- During the upward movement of the gear rack I4 the pawl and ratchet mechanism is in the position shown in Figure 8. The tooth of the pawl rides over the teeth of the ratchet 4| while the pawl 46 is idle. At such times reverse movement of the gear rack I4 in a downward direction is impossible because of the engagement of the tooth of the pawl 43 with the teeth of the ratchet 4|. When the gear rack I4 reaches its uppermost position and when the stop 5| contacts with the arm 48 to lift the pawl 43, the pawl and ratchet assume the position shown in Figure 9. The arm 49 is elevated simultaneously with the pawl 43. At 53 is a slide which is normally held in its rearward position by means of a compression spring 54, the slide having forward and rearward movement in the frame 53. This slide is provided with a projection 55 forward of its rear corner for engaging the arm 49 to hold the arm in its uppermost position against the tension of the spring 44. When the arm 49 is elevated due to the action of the stop 5|, the spring 54 causes the movement of the slide 53 into the Figure 2 position and underneath the arm 49 to latch the arm and pawl in elevated position. This prevents the accidental displacement of the pawls from the Figure 9 position during the reverse or downward movement of the rack bar I4. This construction insures that the movement of the rack bar in either direction must be fully completed before reverse movement is possible.

The slide 53 is guided to some extent by the ribs 56 of the guideway for the rack bar I4. At the upper extremity of the rack bar I4 is a bracket 51 having a cam surface in its lower end portion. As the rack bar I4 moves downwardly, the cam surface will engage the rear edge of the slide 53 to cause the movement of the slide against the compression of the spring 54. This movement will continue until the arm 49 is released from the projection 55. At this point the spring 44 acting on the pawl 43 will depress the arm 49 until it is seated behind the projection 55. This restores the pawl and ratchet mechanism to the Figure 8 position but it simultaneously brings the notch I5 of the rack bar l4 into alignment with the detent l6 which latches the rack bar against movement in either direction.

The coin selector is shown at 58 but this se lector does not constitute a part of my invention since any suitable coin selector will answer my purpose. The coin selector 58 is designed for throwing out slugs and discarding coins of other denominations than those desired. It is provided with a coin chute 59 which delivers the coins in the space between the slide 26 and the slide 21. The coin itself serves no purpose other than to complete the linkage for unlatching the detent Hi from engagement with the gear rack M. The detent is unlatched during the first quarter turn of the crank handle H but further turning of the crank handle acts through the cam 19 to rock the lever 22 with each turn of the crank handle l1. Usually the coin is ejected immediately after the first quarter turn of the crank handle but even if the ejection of the coin is delayed, the successive back and forth sliding of the slide 26 will throw out the coin. When thrown out the coin falls through a coin slot 60 and into the coin box 6|. After the first quarterv turn of the crank handle the pinion 40 begins to lift the rack bar I4 and immediately positions the notch l5 above the end'of the detent I6. The turning of the crank handle also rocks the lever 22 at each quarter turn of the crank handle but the rocking of the lever will then merely slide the slide member 26 back and forth without effect on the member 21. After the upward movement of the rack bar has begun, the movement must be continued until the stop 5| engages the arm 48 to reverse the pawl and ratchet mechanism. At the same time the stop 5| will engagethe arm 56 to release the detent 33 and to cause the spring 32 to urge the detent l6 into position in contact with the smooth surface of the rack bar I4. When the pawl and ratchet mechanism has been reversed, no movement is possible of the rack bar l4 other than the downward movement and this must be continued until the cam surface of the member 51 causes movement of the slide 53 and the detent I6 is seated within the notch Hi to latch the gear rack against all movement.

From the above description it will be evident that I provide a liquid dispenser adapted only for cash sales and allowing for no credit sales, the sales being made only after the receipt of the cash. The use of the device eliminates all danger of waste or of theft. My dispenser may be employed in filling stations but since it does not require an attendant to make the sale, the dispenser may be installed in any place frequented by motorists and truck drivers.

.Having thus described 'my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a pump linkage after said detent has been withdrawn from the latch, a shoulder on said detent, a second spring pressed detent adapted to seat against said shoulder to hold the first said detent in inoperative position, and means operable by said piston rod at the end of the discharge stroke of said piston for releasing said second detent to permit the seating of the first said detent in the notch of said piston rod.

2. In a liquid'dispensing apparatus, a pump, a latch for securing said pump against operation, linkage for releasing said latch, a lever for rocking said linkage to release said latch, an eccentric for rocking said lever, and means for interrupting said linkage after said latch is released.

3. In a liquid dispensing "apparatus, a pump including a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod, said piston rod being provided with a socket for determining the end of the discharge stroke of said pump, a first spring pressed detent slidable into the socket of said piston for preventing actuation of said pump, means for withdrawing said first detent from said socket immediately prior to the beginning of the suction stroke of said pump, a shoulder on said detent, a second spring pressed detent adapted to seat against the shoulder of said first detent to hold said first detent in inoperative position, and means for releasing said second detent from said first detent at the end of the suction stroke of said piston to thereby release said first detent to automatically enter said socket at the end of the discharge stroke of said piston.

4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a pump including a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod, said piston rod being provided with a socket for determining the end of the discharge stroke of said pump, a first spring pressed detent slidable intothe socket of said piston rod for preventing actuation of said pump, means for withdrawing said first detent from said socket immediately prior to the beginning of the suction stroke of said pump, a shoulder on said detent, a second spring pressed detent adapted to seat against the shoulder of said first detent to hold said first detent in inoperative position, and a stop member on said piston rod and movable therewith for releasing said second detent from said first detent at the end of the suction stroke of said piston to thereby release said first detent to automatically enter said socket at the end of the discharge stroke of said piston, said stop member being adjustable in position on said piston rod to determine the volume of liquid to be dispensed.

5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a pump in,- cluding a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod, a rack on said piston rod, a manually rotatable shaft having a pinion thereon for engaging said rack, a pair of opposed ratchets secured to said shaft, a first pawl for engaging one of said ratchets to permit movement of said piston rod in one direction only, a second pawl pivotally secured to said first pawl for engaging the other of said ratchets to permit movement of said piston rod in the opposite direction only, and a stop member on said piston rod for engagement with said first pawl to move said first pawl to inoperative position, said second pawl being spring pressed toward operative position on the movement of said first pawl to inoperative position.

JOHN M. ALEXANDER. 

